Wedding Dress Shopping Tips

Once you take care of early must dos after your engagement, it's time to start the wedding dress hunt! I thought I'd share with you the words of wisdom I gleaned from my married and soon-to-be-married friends when I was searching for "the one." So, from friend to friend, here are dress shopping tips from my wonderfully helpful and sweet gal pals:

• "Go with people who really know you. There are so many beautiful dresses that it's easy to get overwhelmed. It's nice to have people who can say 'that dress is (or isn't) you.'" — Tessa
• "Only word of advice: TAKE YOUR TIME. Don't feel rushed or pushed into buying anything. I bought my dress the first day I went out shopping. I liked it, but at the end of the day, felt like I had settled . . . my only wedding regret!" — Ashlyn
• "Shopping for my wedding dress was the hardest decision to make in the whole wedding process! But ultimately, after countless hours of online and in-store browsing, I found a designer that I loved (Jenny Packham) and went to every store in California that carried her dresses and tried them on over and over. I thought I wanted a very low-cut front and back with more of a sexy silky look, but none of those looked like a wedding dress, just beautiful gowns. In the end I think it's important to go with what looks the best on you, not what you want to look the best on you." — Kendall
• "A tan is essential, even if it's the spray kind. Listen to your mamma, but go with your gut. Don't eat Mexican food directly before trying on dresses. Wear cute underwear, people are going to see them. Avoid impulsivity." — Julianne
• "If you go with a drop waist, make sure to do some sit-ups!" — Aimee
• "My biggest advice is be willing to try on dresses you vowed you would not wear. I swore up and down that I would not walk down the isle in a lace gown, but I was coaxed into trying one on — and of course it turned out to be perfect!" — Anne
• "Take pictures from every angle. I didn't know I had found 'the one' right away but realized it later after many dresses. It ended up being one of the first dresses I had tried on. Take a brutally honest friend with you who will tell you the truth." — Megan
• "Don't bring too many people! As much as you love your mom, your sisters, your best friends, and your new in-laws, the more opinions you have on dress-buying day, the more stressed out you'll be. I say bring three people at the absolute most." — Mandy
• "Make sure to try all sorts of styles even if it's not what you have been picturing. You never know what you may fall in love with once it's on. Try to go to trunk shows. You will have a chance to meet the designer, see dresses that may not always be in the store, and get some discounts." — Michelle
• "Get what YOU love even if it isn't everyone else's favorite!" — Brittany

Do have any advice to share?